Who Started the Business of Travel Agency?

By Michael Ferguson

Travel agencies have been around since the dawn of time, providing assistance to travelers in planning and booking trips, whether it be for business or pleasure. But who started the business of travel agency?

The first ever travel agency can be traced back to 1758, when Thomas Cook began offering package tours in Britain. Cook’s business model was a simple one: he offered package tours that combined transportation, accommodation and attractions into one price.

He also sold tickets for tourists to attend events like sporting matches, concerts and theater performances. This was the very first time that someone had organized travel for profit.

From there, the concept of travel agencies spread quickly throughout Europe, with more and more companies popping up in countries like France, Germany and Italy. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, travel agencies had become a fixture in many cities around the world.

However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that these businesses really began to take off. This was due in large part to advances in technology that made planning trips easier and more efficient than ever before. With computers now able to search multiple flights at once and provide detailed information about destinations all over the world, travel agents could now offer comprehensive services to customers who were looking for assistance with their travels.

Today, travel agencies are still a major force in the tourism industry. They provide services such as helping customers plan vacations, book flights and hotels, arrange car rentals, advise on local attractions and even provide assistance with passport applications or visas.

So who started this influential business? Thomas Cook is credited as being the inventor of modern-day travel agency – his groundbreaking package tour concept has been imitated by countless businesses since then – but there have been a number of other important players who have contributed to its success over the years.

In conclusion, Thomas Cook is widely considered to be the founder of modern-day travel agency. His innovative idea of combining transportation, accommodation and attractions into one price paved the way for today’s sophisticated travel industry. But many other companies have contributed to its success over time as well.